Question Number: 17320

Law 11 - Offside 10/14/2007

RE: AYSO Rec/Select & Club Under 11

Joe Griego of Bishop, CA USA asks...

I was watching an AYSO U-10 match two weekends ago and the following situation occurred:

Players A, B & C are streaking toward the goal. Player A is in a clear offside position (by 10 yards or so, near the left touchline, when considered facing the goal). B has the ball in the center of the field. He passes toward the right touchline to Player C (who is onside), but the pass is wild, and C never receives the pass, the ball rolls beyond him, toward the corner flag.

Player A (who was offside, but nowhere near the play, and so never called for offside) is a very fast runner, and streaks all the way across the field, and arrives at the ball simultaneously with Player C and a defender.

Offside on Player A, or not? Player A clearly did not gain an advantage from his offside position, since he had to run farther than anyone else on the field to get to the ball. Assume Player A never returned to onside position - he ran straight from his offside position near the opposite touchline across the field to the ball.

What say you?

Joe Griego
Bishop, CA

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

DEPENDS!
When there is an offside and an onside teammate in pursuit of the ball we are instructed to wait for a physical touch of the ball.
As long as player A had not interfered with any defender on the way to the ball and then until player A or player C actually touch the ball we refrain from making a decision. If player A touches it the offside call is made if player C touches the ball then we reset the positional evaluation of offside once again. Where is player A at that point if player C now touches the ball?

In point of fact Player A never returned to an onside position. Recovering from the restriction of noninvolvement is not something an offside player can achieve on his own. Gaining an advantage refers to the rebound or deflection of a ball off an opponent, goal post, referee, crossbar or corner flag it has nothing to do with being far away.The fact he was fast or players moved or he ran longer play no part! He was offside positioned when player B sent the ball over to player C hence player A CANNOT be involved in active play.

For a former offside evaluated player to be declared onside one of three things must occur
the opposition achieve uncontested controlled ball possession
or the player is no longer in an offside position when a team mate next touches/plays the ball
or the ball goes out of play

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

If Player A arrives simultaneously at the ball with Player C and a defender, the chances he is interfering with play are excellent and an offside infraction should most likely be called, especially at this age and skill level. As Ref Dawson notes, it will depend on the circumstances to a degree, but the Advice to Referees (2007) says in **11.5 "Interfering with play" means playing or touching the ball passed or touched by a teammate. A player can be considered playing the ball even without touching it if, in the opinion of the referee or assistant referee, that player is making an active play for the ball and is likely to touch it. If contact is likely, the offense (offside) can be called when the official makes that determination, even if there is no contact with the ball.** My call, based on your information, is offside.

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See Question: 17343